James Corkum, who will be in Grade 12 this fall, is working with Dexter Construction in Wolfville this summer as part of the summer co-op program.

The program is available to students in Grade 10 and 11 who can’t fit a co-op experience into their academic school year. Over the summer, they get the chance to work in positions related to health care, law enforcement, trades, automotive, tourism and more.

"Co-op has been a wonderful experience," said Corkum, who lives in Wolfville. "You get to learn hands-on from people who have been working in the industry and who want to share their knowledge with you. I would definitely recommend summer co-op to anyone who is interested."

This year, more than 300 students across the province are participating in paid and unpaid co-ops that will go towards the successful completion of more than 550 co-op credits. The summer co-op program is available in over 48 schools across all eight school boards in Nova Scotia.

Employers report that providing summer opportunities for students is working well. Employers find co-op students are committed, engaged, and ready to learn.

"It is a great experience for youth," said Kevin Bezanson, superintendent of Dexter Construction, Wolfville. "These are future employees for a company and it's a good way for them to receive training. It also allows them to see what is out there for job opportunities. It's been working very well for us."